Purse-clasp-locking device.



No. 897,562. PATBNTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

L. TUORTO. PURSE CLASP LOOKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED HQV. 4, 1907.

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LOUIS TUORTO, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

PUBSE-CLASP-LOCKIN G DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed November 4, 1907. Serial No. 400,512.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis TUORTO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented. new and useful Improvements in Pursc-Clasp-Locking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in a purse-clasp or frame whereby the purse may e locked withoutthe use of a key and again readily opened.

The object of the invention is to provide a purse-clasp or frame with secret mechanism, which clasp cannot be 0 ened by an one without understanding t e secret 0 said mechanism.

The purposes of the invention are attained by the mechanism, devices and means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which similar reference characters designate like arts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1, is a side elevation of the front of the purseframe or clas with a portion of the purse pouch remove and showin a portion of the hand-shaped cover, over apping the operatin or opening button, cut away. Fig. 2 is a si e elevation of the same with the forward portion of the covering hand removed and the rearward or hin ed portion thereof appearing in section. ig. 3 is an end elevation of the purse frame or clasp, as it aplplears when viewed from the left in Fig. 1. 'g. 4, is a vertical section of the purse frame or clasp, taken on the line a; a; in ig. 1 and viewed from the left, as indicated by the arrow 1. Fig. 5, is a view of the urse frame or clasp in o ened position, showing the o crating mec anism in the lower portion t ereof. Fig. 6, is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on the line 3 y in Fig. 5, as it a. pears when viewed from the direction of e arrow 2.

In the drawing A designates the purse clasp or frame referred to in the opening paragraph hereto, in which a designates the rim 0 said clasp, which is made in two parts, A and A", hinged together by pivot pins 0., with springs a coiled about said pins a and adapted to 0 on said pivotedparts. Said rim is provi ed, at the required intervals, with orifices or holes a, through which rivet pins a are passed to secure the leather A of the purse pouch thereto, and over the leather A, adjacent to the edge thereof, is placed a each other, and wit metal strip a with orifices a formed therein, which latter orifices a register with the orifices a of the rim, to receive the ends of the rivet pins a, securing the leather A of the purse much to said rim. To thcinner surface 0 one of the hinged parts of said rim is secured a metal late A, sup orting'on its inner surface a siding )late A and atwoarmed spring A centrally pivoted on a stud a projecting inwardly from said metal plate A, with one of its arms en aging a ainst a stud a, projecting inwardly rom sai sliding plate A and the other arm in engagement with the stud a projecting inwardly from said metal plate A, the arms of said spring serving to retain and move said sliding plate A into a locked position. Said sliding plate A terminating at its upper edge into an up wardly (projecting 'arm a with a catch lip on adapte to be engaged by an oppositely disposed catch lip a projecting inwardly from the opposite mm at the required point, looking t e two parts of the rim together upon closing the purse.

Adjacent to the central edge of the slidin plate A and secured to the inner surface 0 the metal plate A is a keeper plate A designed to engage the ed e of said sliding plate A, hol ing said sli ing plate securely 1n position. To the sliding plate A are secured the thumb studs A and A which extend through slots formed in the plate A, apd which are designed for operating said p ate.

In the plate A near its center are formed the slots a and a laced at right angles to relation to the purse members in a horizontal andvertical position respectivel ,to receive the stud A the plate A is a so provided near its side and on a line with the guide stud a, with a horizontal slot a, through which extends the shown in t e drawing as hand-shaped, which is formed with lugs a" embracing corresonding lugs a, extendin at right an les rom the outer face of sai late A. aid catch-cover A being secure by the hinge formed by said lugs a" and a in connection with a p1vot pin a" passed through alined holes in said ln s and embraced between said lugs by a close spring a, the ends of which are extended, one bearing against the outer face of the plate A and the other against the inner'face of the catchcover A thus tending to keep the catch-cover A in an open position, or at right angles with relation to the face of the plate A. To the back of the catch-cover A is secured transversely the plate A in such a manner that a recess is formed between the inner face of said plate A". and the catch-cover A owing to the embossing of said catch-cover A. Said plate A". is adapted to be engaged and retained by the head A of the stud A when the catchcover A is in a locked position as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, thus completely covering and concealing said stud A. A stud a is rigidly secured to the outer face of the late A in a corresponding relation to the stud A for the purpose of puzzling the operator.

The operation of the device is as follows: The catch plate A is moved in a horizontal direction by pushing the stud A in the guide slot 0), which also simultaneously moves the stud A in the guide slot a", thus bringing the stud head A clear of contact with the catch-cover plate A", releasing said catchcover A and allowing it to spring outward actuated by the coiled spring a, thus exosing the stud-head A to view. The studead A is now pressed downward in a vertical manner, guided by the guide slot a, thus forcing the projecting arm a and the catch-lip a out of engagement with the catch-lip a" mounted upon the o posite rim, thus allowing the hinged mem ers of the purse frame to fly open by the action of the spring a.

To close the device the hin ed urse mem bers are closed bringing the eve ed portion of the catch-lips a and a" into contact, thus depressing the catch-1i a carried by the catch-plate A and guided by the vertical slot at until the purse members are closed, when the spring a forces the catch-plate A into its former position, thus bringing the catch-lips a and a into engagement and thus locking the purse members. The catch-cover A is now closed, bringing the catch-cover plate A into contactwith the beveled head A of the stud A thus forcing said stud A carried by the catch late 5 in a horizontal direction, guided by t e slot a, thus allowing the catch-cover plate A to pass the stud head A, after which the catch plate A covering the stud A flies back to its assigned position, thus bringing the stud A into engagement with the catchcover plate A securely locking said catchcover A in place and concealing the locking stud A from view.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a purse or bag frame of the class described, composed of two hinged members, one member formed with a frameplate, carrying a movable catchplate, formed with a rearwardly projecting catchlip, and forwardly projecting actuating studs, projecting through guide slots in the frame-plate and terminating in beveled heads, means for retainin said catch-plate in a locked position, an means for concealin the head ofthe main or central stud for t e purpose set forth.

2. In a urse or bag frame of the class described, t e combination, of two hinged frame members, a framelate secured and forming part of one of sai members, a movable catchlate secured upon the inner surface of sai frame-plate, a keeper-plate rigidly secured to the inner surface of said frameplate, and partly overlapping said catchplate, a spr1ng-bearing stud mounted upon the catch-plate, a spring-bearin stud mounted upon the inner surface of sai frame-plate, a spring-retaining stud mounted upon the inner surface of said frame-plate, a coiled sprin embracing said spring-retaining stud,

said members, guide slots extending throughsaid framelate, hinge-lugs projecting from the outer ace of said frame-plate, coacting with hinge-lugs formed upon an embossed catch-cover and pivoted to the same by a hinge-pin, a coiled spring embracing said hinge-pin and having extending arms, one bearing against the outer surface of the frameplate and the other against the inner surface of the catch-cover, a catch-plate secured to the inner edge of the embossed catch-cover and a catch-stud formed with a head engag ing the guide slots, for the purpose set forth. n testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two subscribing witnesses. LOUIS TUORTO. Witnesses:

CHAS. F. BOWMAN, MABEL L. LEFEVRE. 

